Then he put down a bank himself. Soon he had doubled it. He withdrew, and with a few minor exceptions, his luck held out against the other bankers, who changed in quick succession. Soon he had already exceeded by a few hundred the thousand gulden he had set out to win-for someone else-and since Elrief now rose to go back to the theatre to rehearse a role-about which he would say nothing despite Greising's ironically expressed interest-Willi used the opportunity to leave with him. The others were soon deep in their game again, and when Willi turned around to look at them once more at the door, he saw that only the consul's eyes had left the cards to follow him with a quick, cold glance.

IV

Only now, as he once more stood outdoors with the soft evening air caressing his brow, did Willi fully realize the extent of his good luck, or rather, as he immediately corrected himself, of Bogner's good luck. Still, there was enough left over for him to buy himself a new cape, a new cap, and a new sword belt, just as he had dreamed. And even after that, there was still enough for a few suppers in some pleasant company, which he could easily attract now. Aside from all that-how satisfying to be able to give his old comrade the sum that would save him, tomorrow morning at half past seven in front of Alser Church!-he actually had a thousand gulden; yes, the celebrated thousand-gulden bill which he had only read about in books was in his wallet along with a few hundred-gulden bills. Well, my dear Bogner, here you are. A thousand gulden exactly. I've won them. To be more precise, I've won one thousand and one hundred and twenty-five. Then I stopped. Self-control, right? And I hope, my dear Bogner, from now on you'll also ... No, no, he couldn't permit himself to preach a moral lesson to his former comrade. Bogner would get the point on his own, and one hoped he would be tactful enough not to feel that this windfall entitled him to enter into a closer relationship with Willi. Maybe it would be better after all, and more correct even, to send his orderly to Alser Church with the money.

On his way to the Kessners, Willi wondered whether they would ask him to stay for the evening meal as well. Well, fortunately the meal itself was no longer important to him! After all, he himself was now rich enough to invite the whole company to dinner! Too bad there was no place to buy flowers. But as he passed an open pastry shop, he decided to buy a box of chocolates; then, turning back again as he reached the door, he bought another, even larger one, and pondered how properly to divide them between mother and daughter.

When he entered the front garden of the Kessners' estate, a housemaid met him with the information that the Kessners had driven to the Helene Valley with everyone, probably to the Krainer Lodge. The Kessners would no doubt also have dinner out, as was their custom on Sunday evenings.

A mild disappointment painted itself on Willi's face, and the housemaid smiled at the two boxes that the lieutenant held in his hand. What should he do with these? "Please give my respects and-here"-he handed the housemaid the two packages-"the larger one is for the lady of the house, and the other one is for the Fraulein. And give them my regrets."

"Perhaps if the lieutenant were to take a carriage-they're probably still at the Krainer Lodge."

Willi looked at his watch ponderously and a little self-importantly.

"Well, I'll see," he remarked carelessly, gave a humorously exaggerated salute, and left.

He was now alone on the evening street. A small, merry band of tourists, ladies and gentlemen with dirty shoes, passed by. In front of a villa an elderly gentleman sat in a wicker chair reading the paper. A little farther up the street an elderly lady sat crocheting on a second-story balcony while speaking with a woman who was leaning out the open window of the house opposite, her arms crossed over the windowsill. It seemed to Willi as though these people were the only ones in the whole town who had not gone somewhere at this hour. The Kessners might have left word for him with the housemaid! Well, he had no intention of forcing himself on them. He really didn't need to do that. But what to do? Return to Vienna right away? That would perhaps be best. How would it be just to leave the decision to fate?

Two carriages stood in front of the casino.